FACTBOX-EU turns up heat on bailed out banks: Scandinavia

Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:49am EDT

 Oct 16 (Reuters) - Neelie Kroes, the European Competition
Commissioner whose term in office finishes at year-end, holds
the fate of some of Europe's largest state-aided banks in the
palm of her hand.
 Here is a list of the top banks in Sweden, Denmark and
Latvia that still await her verdict, detailing the aid they
received, the measures they have taken to date and the possible
payback demanded to compensate for state aid.
 
 JSC PAREX BANKA (LATVIA):
 Type of help: Latvia's second largest bank in terms of
assets received state guarantees, a recapitalisation and
liquidity support from the government. The state took a majority
stake at the end of 2008. The European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development (EBRD) took 25 percent of that stake in
September and extended a 22 million euro subordinated loan.
 Status: Latvia submitted a restructuring plan in May that
included a new business strategy. Full probe underway.
 Possible sanctions: Latvian Prime Minister Valdis
Dombrovskis said in September he had met Kroes and was confident
she would clear the state-backed rescue of Parex by year-end.
 
 CARNEGIE (SWEDEN)
 Type of help: The Swedish bank received a 2.4 billion
Swedish crown ($347.3 million) loan from the central bank in
October 2008.
 The liquidity support was later replaced by an equivalent
sized emergency loan from the National Debt Office, which
subsequently took over all of Carnegie's shares as collateral.
The Commission approved the aid as a temporary measure while
awaiting a restructuring plan.
 Status: The Swedish government sold Carnegie to Swedish
private equity company Altor and investment company Bure
(BURE.ST). However, some former shareholders remain in legal
dispute over Carnegie's valuation when it was nationalised.
 Possible sanctions: None expected. Commission approval of
sale expected imminently.
 
 FIONIA BANK (DENMARK)
 Type of help: The Danish bank received a 685 million euro
credit facility from the Danish government and a 134 million
euro capital injection.
 Status: Commission approved aid in May.
 
 ($1=.6259 Pound)
 ($1=.6710 Euro)
 ($1=6.911 Swedish Crown)
 
  (Compiled by Kirstin Ridley and Steve Slater in London, Ed
Taylor in Frankfurt, Boris Groendahl in Vienna, Gilbert Kreijger
in Amsterdam, Phil Blenkinsop in Brussels, Andras Gergely in
Dublin, Sven Nordenstam in Stockholm, Julien Ponthus in Paris;
editing by Simon Jessop)

Related Quotes and News

Company
Price
Related News
Comments (0)
This discussion is now closed. We welcome comments on our articles for a limited period after their publication.